Car-coupling.



No. 652,955. Patented July 3, |900. P. P. num-1T.

CAR' CUPLING.

Apphmion mad mr. 12, 1900) iTED lTatras ATEN ERICE..

CAR-COUPLING.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,955, dated July 3,1900.

Application filed March 12, 1900. Serial No. 8,336. `(No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER P. DUKET, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, haveinvented c ertain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to gravity-latch carcouplers; and it consists inthe novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which I havecontemplated embodying my invention, and said invention is fullydisclosed in the following description and claims. A y

Referring to the said drawings, Figure l shows a longitudinalcross-section of two op-y posing draw-heads. Fig. 2 shows a top planview of two opposing draw-heads,one of which is in horizontalcross-section.

The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the draft-linkused in carcouplers is held substantially rigid in one of the draw-headsand centered and steadied in the opposite draw-head. A

A is a draw-head of the usual oblong shape common in the art andprovided with a foursided flared opening B, converging to a rectangularhorizontally-disposed opening J, said liared openingB being adapted toguide the draftlink I to said horizontally-disposed opening J, where thecoupling operation is effected. The gravity-latch D is pivoted in a slotC, running longitudinally of `the drawhead and extending, preferably,below the under wall of the horizontal opening, and is also providedwith a nose portion d', which substantially forms a downwardly-extendinghook with respect to the main body portion of said gravity-latch D andprotrudes into the flared Opening B in such a manner that the front edgeof said nose is inclined backward from top to bottom. The tendency ofsaid gravity-latch is to lie normally in a forward position, so that thesaid nose portion always protrudes into the opening B, as hereinbeforedescribed, except when held back -is provided with spring-buffers K K oneither side of the gravity-latch D. These buers K are of any suitableshape and adapted to slide backward and forward in the said horizontalopening J. The outer sides of the heads of the buffers K K extendforward of the inner sides, so that they may engage the draft-link inadvance of the inner sides, the forward end of the buffer-head curvinginwardly away from the outer side and end. The buffers K K are alsoprovided with curved notches 7c 7c at their front ends, adapted tocenter and receive the curved end t of the draft-link I. The forward endof the buffer being thus curved and notched engages the link so far inadvance of its extreme end as to hold it securely in a horizontalposition when in the act of coupling. On their rear ends are horizontalrearwardly extending guide-pins la c, which slide in horizontal bearingsor openings Mk2. The forward part of Vthese bearings is enlarged to forma depressed V'shoulder 7c3, against which a coiled springr,

which enci'x'cles said guide-pins k 7c', bears. It will be seen thatsaid spring h4 will in bearing against the buffers force them outwarduntil they have reached the shoulder 755 at the mouth of said horizontalopening J. This shoulder 705 is formed by the slight reduction in heightof the horizontal opening J.

In the under side of the draw-head and at the forward portion of theslot C is provided an opening L for the purpose of receiving a pin whenit is desired to make a permanent coupling, the latch D being thrownback and said pin Lbeing inserted in front of said latch' D.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The draft-link I is securedin one of the drawheads A either by the latch D or by a permanent pinthrough the opening L. Then the car moves forward, the draft-link beingheld rigid in a flat position by the tension of the springs kt 7a4behind the buffers K K, and upon the draft-link I coming in contact withthe tapered nose d of the latch the latter is forced IOO upward and thebuffers in that draw-head are depressed until the latch is free toengage the draft-link.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head of agravity-latch adapted to be raised by the insertion of Vthe draft-linkand two spring-buffers, one on each side of said latch, said buffershaving` their forward ends provided with curved notches, for centering:rand holding the link in coupling position, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head of agravity-latch adapted to PETER P. DUKET.

Witnesses:

l. C. PRENTIss, GUY C. NEARING.

